On This Day In Judy Garland’s Life And Career – March 14

“Judy Garland, youngest member of the cast, can best be described as a ‘Tucker in her teen,’ her torch singing being unquestionably first-rate.” – “Film Weekly” review of “Broadway Melody of 1938”

March 14, 1937: Recording session for Broadway Melody of 1938. Judy pre-recorded “Your Broadway and My Broadway.” The number was filmed but deleted prior to the film’s release. Only the pre-recording sessions survive. The “Daily Music Report” for this date is one of the few missing from the folders of the complete (or rather, almost complete) copies of the music reports for all of Judy’s MGM films that I purchased from the 2018 auction of Liza Minnelli’s personal items.

“Buds Won’t Bud” was cut from the film before its release. Only the pre-recording survives. Originally just the first half of the song was thought to be the only part of the song to have survived and was included as part of the alternate audio tracks on the 1994 laserdisc release “Judy Garland – The Golden Years at MGM.” The complete version was later discovered and included on the bonus disc of the 2006 Rhino Records boxed set “That’s Entertainment!”

Judy recorded a single version of “I’m Nobody’s Baby” for Decca Records on April 10, 1940. The song was actually the “B” side of the single, with her Decca version of “Buds Won’t Bud” (also recorded for Decca on April 10, 1940) as the “A” side, but it was “I’m Nobody’s Baby” what became the hit, and one of Judy’s most popular singles, peaking at #3 on the charts.

“I’m Nobody’s Baby” was recently (in 2017) remastered to perfection and included on the fantastic “Soundtracks” 2-CD set.

Watch the stereo version of “I’m Nobody’s Baby” synched to the film below, courtesy of our friend Mark Milano. Thanks, Mark!

March 14, 1942: More dance rehearsals for Judy and Gene Kelly for For Me And My Gal. Time called: 1:00 p.m.; dismissed: 5:00 p.m.

Title artwork created by the wonderful Raphael Geroni. Check out his amazing title art for all of Judy’s films at his blog entry “The Film Title Project.” You can also contact him to order the amazing poster (shown below) that features all of the titles.

March 14, 1944: A long night for Judy. She had a nighttime shoot for Meet Me In St. Louis, specifically the “Halloween Sequence” on MGM’s Backlot #3. Judy was due on the set at 10:00 p.m. arriving at 10:24 p.m. The shooting went until 4:20 a.m. that following morning (March 15, 1944).

March 14, 1951: Judy’s guest appearance on the CBS Radio show, “The Bing Crosby Show,” which was recorded approximately March 1, 1951, was broadcast. All of Crosby’s shows were recorded about two weeks prior to the scheduled broadcast date.

This show is not to be confused with her guest appearance recorded on March 14th but not broadcast until March 28th.

March 14, 1951: Judy and Bing Crosby pre-recorded her guest spot on “The Bing Crosby Show,” broadcast out of Hollywood by CBS-Radio on March 28, 1951. This date is approximate. Crosby pre-recorded his shows a few weeks in advance of the scheduled broadcast dates.

Judy sang “Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody” and, with Bing, “Limehouse Blues,” “April in Paris,” “Isle Of Capri,” and “The Story of Sorrento.”

March 14, 1957: Judy’s tax troubles made the news again. Unfortunately, Judy endured tax problems throughout the latter years of her life.

March 14, 1963: Judy took an overdose of sleeping pills in her suite at the St. Regis Hotel in New York City. Her hairdresser and friend, Orval Paine, found her in time and a doctor treated her in the suite. The incident made it into Earl Wilson’s column.